Casteism row: ‘Victim’ BA Balu quits Kerala temple job

THRISSUR: The ‘casteism' row at Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam Temple has the cynically predicted outcome, with ‘victim' BA Balu, an Ezhava community member, losing his job.Balu (32) from Aryanad in Thiruvananthapuram, who returned for duties after his leave ended on Tuesday, tendered his resignation after devaswom authorities told him that he had to go back to kazhakam duties.Balu, who was originally recruited for kazhakam duties and joined for duty on Feb 24, was shifted to the devaswom's administrative wing on ‘working arrangement' in the backdrop of the objections raised by tanthri group. He went on leave and requested the authorities to retain him in the administrative wing. However, the devaswom management committee (DMC) said categorically that he had to perform kazhakam duties as he was recruited for that post.Devaswom authorities sought to underplay the latest development by saying that "Balu is well within his rights to decide whether to resign or not". On the other hand, social reformers like Sivagiri Dharma Sangham Trust president Swami Sachidananda said this was a sad reflection of the casteism prevailing in Kerala temples even now.""Balu has resigned because of casteist pressures. The situation will change only when all the sections of Hindus get equal social justice in all temples. The devaswom authorities should have created the condition conducive to Balu to continue in the kazhakam post without any hindrances.DMC chairman CK Gopi said Balu was recruited for kazhakam duties by the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board (KDRB) and he was informed by the devaswom prior to his return after leave that he has to continue in that post.A section of those associated with the temple had argued that the members of the families who had hereditary rights to perform the kazhakam duties alone must be deployed for that post. The tanthris endorsed the view and argued that kazhakam functions were part of the ritualistic affairs of the temple, and tanthris' words were final in this regard.